Sounds like unmetered air to me. check for cracked/ dis-connected vacuum and air intake hoses. My Escort GT had similar symptoms and it ended up being the clean air duct between the MAF (mass air flow meter) and the throttle body. Mine was cracked in such a way that it was ok at idle and when you gave it some gas the engine would rotate and open the crack in the tube. Since the tube was 50 bucks I just wrapped it with a plastic bag duct tape. Good Luck!
